After numerous calls for help with teenage substance abuse from areas such as Hammanskraal, Kagiso, Soshanguve, Diepsloot and Zola a substance abuse helpline was launched by the Gauteng provincial government. The Tshwane mayor also allocated more than R31m to fight substance abuse in the city.

The helpline is a bid to intensify the fight against substance abuse across Gauteng.

Premier Panyaza Lesufi launched the 24-hour anti-substance abuse call centre service as a platform for parents or caregivers to easily apply for the rehabilitation of children and adults addicted to drugs.

“One of the key mandates we gave to the @gpgSocDev was to respond to the challenges of substance abuse, particularly Nyaope in our communities. We have been inundated with calls from parents that want help for their children,” – Premier @Lesufi #GPAntiSubstanceAbuse pic.twitter.com/7vhQFzb2cR

— Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) October 25, 2022

The applicant, if successful, will be accommodated at a state rehabilitation facility for treatment.

Lesufi said their fight against substance abuse was a result of being inundated with calls from parents that wanted help for their children.

“We, therefore, felt we needed to build an infrastructure that can take the calls, screen them and identify areas where there are problems.”

He said the drug intervention system was an integrated programme with various other departments such as the Department of Health and the Department of Social Development.

Lesufi added that the programme had a strong skills support programme as well as a post-rehabilitation programme.

The helpline can be accessed at 0800 228827 or GPAntiSubstanceAbuse@Gauteng.gov.za or USSD *134*474727# and following the prompts.

This follows after Tshwane mayor Randall Williams in July 2022 budgeted R31.7m to fight drug and substance abuse in the city.

The calls for assistance have started to come in at the newly launched Gauteng Anti Substance Abuse Helpline from areas such as Hammanskraal, Kagiso, Soshanguve, Diepsloot, Zola #GPAntiSubstanceAbuse #WarOnDrugs pic.twitter.com/kIpvaOHONr

— Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) October 25, 2022

Williams said the funds would empower various anti-drug and substance abuse programmes in the metro.

“Drug and substance abuse, particularly by the youth, has a destructive impact on families and communities at large,” he said.

“It is one of the main causes of domestic and gang violence, assaults, robberies and other criminal activities.”

In efforts to fight substance abuse, Williams joined the MMC of Health Rina Marx, to launch the metro’s Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC).

Williams said the committee currently consists of 22 members representing different spheres of society.

He said these spheres are law enforcement agencies, government, health and civic society groups.

“The establishment of this committee is a significant step in the fight against substance abuse in Tshwane,” he said.

The metro has also joined hands with the University of Pretoria to run the Community Oriented Substance Use Programme (Cosup) which Williams said was aimed at preventing, treating, rehabilitating and reintegrating people affected by drugs and other substances.

Tshwane also runs a 24-hour toll-free helpline to provide support for matters related to substance abuse.

The helpline can be contacted at 0800 611 197 or 0800 467 347.